James Stewart, 5th High Steward of Scotland

James, 5th High Steward of Scotland (1243 - 16 July 1309) was a Scottish noble, Guardian of Scotland during the First Interregnum, and the son of Alexander, 4th High Steward.

In 1286 he was chosen one of the six Regents of Scotland. He subsequently submitted to King Edward I of England on July 9, 1297, and was one of the auditors for the competitor, Robert de Brus. However, during the Wars of Scottish Independence he joined Sir William Wallace. After Wallace's defeat at the Battle of Falkirk in 1298, he gave his support to Robert the Bruce.

In 1302, with six other ambassadors, he was sent to solicit the aid of the French king against Edward, to whom he was once again compelled to swear fealty at Lanercost on October 23, 1306. To render his oath if possible secure, it was taken upon the two crosses of Scotland most esteemed for their sanctity, on the consecrated host, the holy gospels, and certain relics of saints. He also agreed to submit to instant excommunication if he should break his allegiance to Edward. Convinced that his faith was to his country in spite of all, he once again took up the Scottish patriotic cause and died in the service of The Bruce in 1309. [ Anderson, William, "The Scottish Nation", Edinburgh, 1867, vol.ix, p.513.]

James, 5th High Steward, was married to Cecilia, daughter of Patrick de Dunbar, 7th Earl of Dunbar & March, Simpson, David, "The Genealogical and Chronological History of the Stuarts", Edinburgh, 1713] [ Burke, Messrs., John and John Bernard, "The Royal Families of England Scotland and Wales, with Their Descendants" etc., London, 1851, volume 2, page xlvi.] by whom he had a son and heir,

*Walter, 6th High Steward (1293 - 1326) who married Robert the Bruce's daughter, Marjory.

He also had four other children:

* Sir John, Knt., d.October 14, 1318 at the battle of Dundalk.
* Sir Andrew, [ Burke, Messrs., John and John Bernard, "The Royal Families of England Scotland and Wales, with Their Descendants", London, 1851, volume 2, page xlvi.] "younger son" [ Clay, John W., FSA., editor, "The Visitation of Cambridge, 1575 and 1619" by Henery St.George, Richmond Herald, Harleian Society, London, 1897, pps: 7 - 11, where he is described thus: "Andreas Stuard filius capit in uxorem filiam Jacobi Bethe et a Johanne Francor' Rege militario ringulo condecoratus est"; translation reads: Andrew Stewart younger son, married the daughter of James Bethe (Beith) and was decorated with a military swordbelt by John (II), King of France ('The Good', reigned 1350-1364).] [ "East Anglian Stewarts" by G.M.S.Lauder-Frost, FSA Scot., in "The Scottish Genealogist", vol.LI, no.4, December 2004, pps:151-161, ISSN|0300337X ]
* Sir James Stewart, Knt., later of Durisdeer, Tutor to his nephew, the future King Robert, in 1327.
* Egidia Stewart, who married Sir Alexander de Menzies, of Durisdeer.

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